Fourth Tory embroiled in betting probe

Is there anyone in CCHQ currently not under investigation? The Sunday Times today reports that Nick Mason, the chief data officer of the Conservative Party, is now being probed by the Gambling Commission over allegations he placed ‘dozens of bets’ in the run up to the election being announced. With just 11 days to go until polling day, he has been forced to take a leave of absence – hardly the best look in the middle of the election campaign…

Mason becomes the fourth Tory to be probed by the commission. Both Tony Lee, the party’s director of campaigns, and his wife, Laura Saunders, the candidate for Bristol North West, are also under scrutiny while Craig Williams, Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary, has admitted placing a £100 ‘flutter’, which he later called a ‘huge error of judgment.’ One of Sunak’s close protection officers has also been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public following a similar allegation and is suspended as an internal investigation is carried out by Scotland Yard.